(06-01-2010 09:08 PM)DICK Wrote:  Then I think it would be reasonable to expect you to preface the article with something like "even though these articles were written in 2008, they are still relevant as I think they indicate BCS thinking on this subject."

My apologies.

Quote:Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii has written an interesting commentary in which he describes the Bowl Championship Series as an evil creation that is an "unfair restraint of trade."

The distinguished Congressman, whose home-state school just pocketed $4.4 million from its appearance in the Sugar Bowl as part of this evil, discriminatory Roy Kramer creation, makes some valid points. They are, in fact, points I’ve made many times over the years in print. He and two other members of Congress have poked at the BCS’s antitrust status with a resolution that has been panned by media nationwide.

Abercrombie sums up eloquently the viewpoints expressed by many fans of schools in leagues like Conference USA, the Mountain West and the Mid-American Conference: that their programs have been marginalized by oppressive contracts and the ensuing "branding" that has come with the BCS.

But is that really true?

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=437895

More discussion on how ND was screwed out of cash during the last BCS negotiations and possible soloutions to this issue.

Quote:BCS Contract Changes for Notre Dame—What Happened

Effective the 2006-2007 bowl season, the Bowl Championship Series expanded their number of bowl games to five by adding a separate National Championship game—10 slots for BCS games.

Notre Dame, with former athletic director Kevin White negotiating, agreed to accept second-place (in a conference) money—$4.5 million—for any BCS bowl appearance. Previously, Notre Dame received a conference champion’s share, which has since grown to $17 million.

Automatic qualification for Notre Dame was changed from the top six to the top eight. Qualification for selection remained at the top 12 with nine wins.

If Notre Dame did not go to a BCS bowl, it would receive the equivalent of a Big East non-participating team share—$1.3 million.

Many ND alumni and fans were immediately upset with this agreement—and rightfully so. The bowls were pleased to get Notre Dame for one-fourth the cost.

What it meant for Notre Dame, who does not need the $1.3 million per year if it doesn't make the BCS, is this:

•Under the prior agreement, one BCS bowl in four years would be $17 million.
•Under the new agreement, four BCS bowls in four years would be $18 million ($4.5 million x 4).
•Under the new agreement, one BCS bowl in four years would be $8.4 million ($4.5 million + (3 x $1.3 million or $3.9 million)).
Anything fewer than four BCS bowls in four years is less money than one BCS bowl under the prior contract—and that assumes the conference champion’s share does not continue to go up.

Notre Dame could be ranked number one, higher than any conference champion, play for the national championship, and get the same $4.5 million—second-place money.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27815...or-the-bcs

Some Specific Possible Solutions

1. All BCS bowl teams receive the same amount.

This would equalize any disparities between Notre Dame, non-BCS teams, and conference second-place teams. While it is highly unlikely that a non-BCS team or a second-place conference team would play for a national championship, it is possible Notre Dame could in the near future.

Solution - ND pushed into b10 or Big East...... i'm guessing that's the intent!

(06-06-2010 09:23 AM)WallyB Wrote:  Solution - ND pushed into b10 or Big East...... i'm guessing that's the intent!

ND is now in the same camp with the MWC, CUSA, MAC, SBC, WAC where they aren't getting equal treatment of the bigs.

With the PAC-16/Big Ten situation that also is going to throw the Big East probably among the smalls. Their region just isn't going to be large enough to justify a BCS bid under the current system without Rutgers on board.

Current Market share monopolies:

Big East: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, West Virginia
ACC: North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts
MWC: Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico

These 3 have rather tenuous market share claims to BCS status. If the Big East loses New Jersey or the ACC lose Maryland its really going to put a lot into question as to whether they deserve autobids. The SEC could add NC State and Va Tech. The Big Ten Maryland, Rutgers, and BC.

3 super power conferences to rule the country, PAC-16, SEC, Big Ten. What that would do the BCS system is anyones guess.

Big XII commish Beebe running his mouth against Obama's 8 team playoff comments. Boy I sure bet he could get the presidents help now with only 4 committs on the table....that is what you get for burning too many bridges.

Quote:Obama said on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday night that he would "throw his weight around" in pursuing an eight-team playoff. Among the six power conferences, the commissioners of the ACC, Big 12 and SEC responded when contacted by CBSSports.com. The Pac-10's Tom Hansen and Big East's Mike Tranghese declined comment.

"I am extremely delighted that he is our president and excited that he is going to lead our nation," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said. "I am disappointed that there isn't more full discussion before he comes to a conclusion on this. I would hope only that the leader of our country would take under full consideration all the aspects.

"The simple solution is easy to state. We're not in charge of a professional league where we have the entertainment value to consider. That should be fully considered. This isn't something you should make a rash decision about."

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told the New York Times over the weekend: "I think it’s that time of year. Whether it’s the president-elect or college football coaches or fans debating it, the First Amendment is alive and well."

"Certainly it’s an important issue for college football and colleges. Where does it stand in the list of challenges we have in America today? I would say it’s not very high.”

Obama's comments have added weight not only because he is about to become leader of the free world. His vice president has been a strident BCS critic. Around the time the Senate Judiciary Committee convened hearings on the BCS in 2003 Joe Biden called the BCS system "rigged" and "un-American".

It was the threat of hearings in 2005 that prompted the commissioners to add an additional BCS bowl and loosen the qualification standards for non-BCS teams.

"I'm concerned about it," Beebe said of Obama. "Obviously he is in a powerful position. If it makes people think along those lines without fully considering all the ramifications, that's the main thing. A one-game single elimination type playoff works well for the NFL, it works well for our basketball championship but it doesn't mean you end up with the best team winning it all."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/11113859

Cotton Bowl just short of making the BCS rotation this time around but is hopeful for 2015...

Quote:The Bowl Championship Series is coming to ESPN starting in January 2011 (following the 2010 regular season).

ESPN and the BCS announced the deal on Tuesday. It includes exclusive television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights for the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls from 2011-2014 and the BCS title game from 2011 to 2013.

The Rose Bowl will continue to be televised on ABC through 2014 under a separate, previous contract. The Rose Bowl is also slated to host the 2014 title game.

ESPN is currently available in 98 million American homes. The current BCS deal with Fox Sports expires after the 2010 games.

This means the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, plus the BCS Championship Game, will be televised in prime time each January. The schedule has not been released. There will also be a BCS show on ESPN every Sunday to unveil the current rankings.

The new deal shuts the chance of the Cotton Bowl becoming a BCS bowl until 2015 at the earliest. Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he was not surprised by the new deal, and understood why his bowl was out of the mix for now.

In the meantime, the Cotton Bowl will move to the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in 2010, giving BCS officials a chance to observe the bowl operate in a state-of-the-art facility before the next deal is negotiated.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710477

Quote:Calling the BCS "fundamentally unfair," three Congressmen have written Barack Obama to inform the president-elect of a bill they proposed earlier this year to strike down major college football's postseason system.

As first reported by CBSSports.com this week, the resolution, which never made it to the floor this year, will be re-introduced early next year. H. Rs. 1120 calls for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division "to investigate and bring appropriate actions against the parties of the BCS."

The six-page letter and accompanying fact sheet concludes by telling Obama, "This ... is the best way for the federal government to take action to end this illegal system."

The letter is signed by three of the resolution's four sponsors -- Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah). They hope to bring political pressure on the BCS to change believing a playoff "would be less restrictive."

The Congressmen refer Obama to 2004 when Senate and House Judiciary Committee hearings on the legality of the BCS forced the commissioners to be more inclusive. After those hearings non-BCS schools were given a larger share of the financial pie and allowed easier access to BCS bowls. Since then both Boise State and Hawaii have played in BCS bowls. In the first seven years of the BCS, only Utah, among non-BCS schools, was able to qualify for one of the four major bowls.

The letter makes note of playoff proponents Michael Adams (Georgia president) and Bernie Machen (Florida president).

"With the prestige of the presidency and vigorous pursuit by the Department of Justice in support of fairness and equity," the letter states, "we are certain the BCS will be persuaded to resolve the issues ... to the benefit of the nation's colleges and their fans."

Obama twice this month has spoken of his desire to institute an eight-team playoff in Division I-A.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/11121011

We have here as BCS opponents:

President Obama (wants 8 team playoff)
Congressmen from Hawaii, Utah, Idaho (wants MWC/WAC access)
School presidents from Georgia, Florida (wants plus-one for SEC)

Only Obama wants change for the right reasons (pure entertainment value).

Article talking about the limited AD inventory of the BCS.....part of the reason why it makes sense to expand to 8 games with more markets.

Quote:“The BCS has limited sales inventory, less than 300 ad units annually in the total package,” said Kevin O’Malley, a former CBS and Turner executive who consults with college conferences and previously assisted the BCS. “As rights fees go up, it’s going to be more and more difficult for over-the-air networks to compete with cable. ESPN has an enormous advantage because of its subscriber fees and a large inventory with its regular-season package. ESPN can have much more of an impact for the BCS sponsors over the course of a season, instead of just 10 days around the bowl.”

The Sugar (top) and three others move to
ESPN in 2011; the Rose is expected to follow.When Fox executives considered matching ESPN’s bid, they explored whether they could put some of the games on FX, one of the network’s cable channels, which would allow Fox to take advantage of a dual revenue stream from advertising and affiliate sales, sources said. Ultimately, Fox executives decided that the games would not be a good fit for FX, which has not carried much sports programming since it lost NASCAR last year.

“We put what we thought was a very competitive bid on the platform that we felt comfortable [with],” said Bob Thompson, president of Fox Sports Networks, during a SportsBusiness Journal/Daily conference last week. “Given the current economic condition, we went as far as we could. And we lost.”

ESPN, with the dual revenue stream of advertising and subscription fees it receives from cable operators, came to the table determined not to let the BCS get away again, as it did when Fox swooped in four years ago. That was evident by ESPN’s bid of nearly $124 million annually, which represented a staggering 50 percent increase over the current $82.5 million deal.

The BCS bowl payout, currently $18 million a team, is expected to grow to $22 million to $23 million under the new contract.

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60652

The PAC-16 is pushing for 2 autobids.....interesting.

Quote:The coach said it's possible the Pac-16 would push for two automatic bids to the BCS, one for each division champion. That potential bonanza could open the possibility of the two division champs from one league playing for the national title, and it would eliminate the need for a conference championship game.

"The Pac-10 doesn't believe in a championship game," the coach said. "And coaches in the Big 12 don't like it anyway."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5270048

More 2 autobid talk from the PAC-16:

Quote:PAC-16 TO GET 2 BCS BIDS?

In a related development, sources close to the Pac-10/Big 12 merger say the new, 16-team super conference could push for two BCS bids with the Big 12 dissolving and losing theirs.

In that case, you could have a BCS bid for the Western Division winner among USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State.

As well as a BCS bid for the Eastern Division winner among Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State.

That will be met with resistance from the other BCS conferences as they try to expand and could lead to the formula of each division winner in one of the newly formed super conferences receiving a bid into an 8-team playoff.

There will need to be some representation of the non-BCS schools or legal wrangling and government hearings will overwhelm the process.

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1093010

(06-10-2010 04:11 PM)Airport KC Wrote:  More 2 autobid talk from the PAC-16:

Quote:PAC-16 TO GET 2 BCS BIDS?

That will be met with resistance from the other BCS conferences as they try to expand and could lead to the formula of each division winner in one of the newly formed super conferences receiving a bid into an 8-team playoff.

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1093010

Now there's an interesting concept

MWC and CUSA officially discuss a championship game for an autobid.

Quote:Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson and Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky met in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a few hours Thursday to discuss strategy regarding television, the BCS and scheduling, Thompson said Friday.

"It was a think-tank session. They might listen to it," Thompson said of BCS presidents and chancellors. "There are hundreds and thousands of ideas out there. This is nothing formal. The world is changing by the week."

Among the ideas that were discussed was if a meeting of the MWC and C-USA conference champions could bring the conferences closer to an automatic berth in the BCS.

C-USA already plays a conference championship game.

The BCS presidents and chancellors would have to agree to any such structure.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5479944

The likely hood of this happening before the present bowl agreements expire in 2014 is pretty much nil.

The MWC has the upper hand over CUSA right now as the clear favorite to land that 7th automatic bid. I'm not sure why they are bothering with a joint championship game between them and CUSA at this point. A 12 team MWC would be pretty much like a MWC/WAC playoff given the schools involved anyways.

I'm going to revise my earlier BCS distribution concept given the MWC/CUSA won't do a full merger but it looks like there is some cooperation going on behind the scenes as far as membership (UTEP to MWC?).

MWC: SDSU, Fresno, UNLV, Nevada, Boise, Wyoming, Colorado St, New Mexico, UTEP, TCU

CUSA: Temple, ECU, Marshall, UAB, UCF, Memphis, So Miss., Tulane, Houston, Rice

Winner goes to BCS (Cotton Bowl)

For the WAC:

Then the WAC adds UTSA and Texas St. to replace Nevada and Fresno giving them 7 schools. BYU and AFA then could place their non-revenue sports in the WAC.

For SBC/MAC/WAC/Indy:

35 schools left over without conference AQ

MAC (12)
SBC (10)
WAC (8)
Indy (5) (BYU, AFA, ND, Navy, Army)


An at-large bid would go to the highest ranked non-AQ champion.

-Revenue sharing:

Indy (2%) (Roughly 1.1 mil per Indy, about what ND is getting now)
MAC (1%)
WAC (1%)
SBC (1%)

Any school that receives an at-large bid would receive a full 6 million dollar at-large share that would not have to be divided among conference mates.

This would be a better deal than what ND is getting now because they could finish something like #22 and as the only ranked non-AQ team would receive an at-large.

Also with the addition of a 6th BCS bowl, ND would only have to finish #16 or higher in the event that say BYU is #5 to be potentially selected for an at-large. The same in reverse would apply for BYU. It would also standardize the BCS rules for the service academies.

BYU/AFA would pool bowl resources with the WAC (keep Las Vegas Bowl). BE is already doing this with Notre Dame (Champs Sport).

Army/Navy could that with the MAC to pick up a decent mid level bowl (maybe the game in St. Pete vs. BE #4).

Projected MAC/Army/Navy Bowl lineup:

1. BCS at-large
2. St Pete vs. BE #4
3. GMAC vs. SBC #1
4. Independence vs. ACC #7
5. Pizza vs. Big Ten #8
6. New Mexico vs. MWC #6

St. Pete in most years would get the MAC champ if it is ranked higher than Army/Navy.

In a year like 2008 when the MAC champ wins 8 games and Navy wins 9 or 10 they could play in St. Pete.

Currently as it stands Navy/Army have back up rotation in the Emerald and Poinsettia bowls. If BYU/AFA go Independent they would want to sign those bowls for themselves forcing Navy/Army out.

Navy/Army under my proposed plan would have a variety of bowl options depending on how well they do on the season instead of having to set up a strange rotation like they have now.

More elaboration on the fesability of a MWC/CUSA championship game from the MWC Commish:

Quote:Thompson said the commissioners "threw a lot of stuff against the wall," including the idea of a playoff between the conference's football champions. Such an idea, he said, would require approval by the four BCS bowls and a by majority of the 11 FBS conferences (to allow a seventh automatic qualifier in the BCS) as well as NCAA legislation (to allow for an extra game, since C-USA already stages a championship game). In other words, such an event wouldn't happen anytime soon, if ever. "There's no plan in place," Thompson said. "We can't affect that. There are four bowls and ESPN and nine other conference signatories. It's two guys talking who don't have any control over the vote."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/fo...z0xBVrvWAA

More comments from Craig Thompson:

Quote:Thompson and his Conference USA counterpart Britton Banowsky spoke Thursday in the midst of upheaval below the BCS conference level according to the source. There are few specifics at this point but the idea is to make both conferences more relevant and perhaps coax BYU into staying in the Mountain West. Thompson stressed the preliminary nature of the talks. Here is how the MWC couched things on its website.

"We had probably set this up about a month ago," Thompson said. "We said, 'Let's just talk about what's going on if there are going to be all these superconferences ...' We did speak about, 'What if a group of 22-24 teams were to approach the BCS about an automatic bid vs. the nine, or eight or 10-mmeber Mountain West?' That was on the table. I'd like to label it a 'think session.' "

No information has been submitted to BCS officials from the two leagues. In fact, 2010 begins a new four-year cycle for the BCS. That would mean the soonest anything could be in place is at the end of the 2014 season.

"The conferences have agreed to this format for the next four years," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said.

Conference USA and the Mountain West were among those conferences.

"We talked [with CUSA] about marketing 24 instead of 12, 10, whatever," Thompson added. "The bottom line is this is the first of four years. We haven't played this year's BCS games. This is like kindergarten in formal education. We're just talking."

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry...2/24009504

(08-20-2010 03:55 PM)Airport KC Wrote:  Currently as it stands Navy/Army have back up rotation in the Emerald and Poinsettia bowls.

What do you mean by "back up"?

(08-25-2010 12:46 PM)BeatNavy Wrote:  

(08-20-2010 03:55 PM)Airport KC Wrote:  Currently as it stands Navy/Army have back up rotation in the Emerald and Poinsettia bowls.

What do you mean by "back up"?

I should have omitted back up and just put in rotation.

The MWC and CUSA have formally elected member schools to represent collaboration moving forward as a commitee.

MWC: TCU, Boise, Air Force
CUSA: SMU, Central Florida, Tulane

Quote:The Mountain West Conference plans to “take the conversation to the next level” with Conference USA on various issues affecting to the leagues, including access to the Bowl Championship Series in college football.

Last week, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson requested the chief executives of league members Boise State, Air Force and Texas Christian form a subcommittee to meet with three chief executives from Conference USA in Dallas-Forth Worth sometime in September or October, according to an Aug. 23 memo from the MWC obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tentative Conference USA participants included executives from Tulane, Central Florida and Southern Methodist.

Previous story
MWC talks with C-USA
The purpose of the requested meeting was to “take the conversation to the next level” with Conference USA after the commissioners of both leagues met in Colorado Springs about two weeks ago. The commissioners then discussed BCS access, marketing rights and a possible postseason game between the champions of both leagues, with the winner getting a berth in a lucrative BCS bowl.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/...ext-level/

(09-01-2010 11:27 AM)Airport KC Wrote:  The MWC and CUSA have formally elected member schools to represent collaboration moving forward as a commitee.

MWC: TCU, Boise, Air Force
CUSA: SMU, Central Florida, Tulane

Quote:The Mountain West Conference plans to “take the conversation to the next level” with Conference USA on various issues affecting to the leagues, including access to the Bowl Championship Series in college football.

Last week, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson requested the chief executives of league members Boise State, Air Force and Texas Christian form a subcommittee to meet with three chief executives from Conference USA in Dallas-Forth Worth sometime in September or October, according to an Aug. 23 memo from the MWC obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tentative Conference USA participants included executives from Tulane, Central Florida and Southern Methodist.

Previous story
MWC talks with C-USA
The purpose of the requested meeting was to “take the conversation to the next level” with Conference USA after the commissioners of both leagues met in Colorado Springs about two weeks ago. The commissioners then discussed BCS access, marketing rights and a possible postseason game between the champions of both leagues, with the winner getting a berth in a lucrative BCS bowl.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/...ext-level/

In the long run, any kind of merger or collaboration between C-USA and MWC is bad for college football. You're hearing it from me first. And realistically, the loss of the WAC (if it happens) without a new conference forming, will also be bad for college football in the long run.